Maps, landscapes, and ways of seeing
Small studies of scale, symbols, and the shape of a place. Explore how a few lines can make a landscape easier to understand.
A map chooses what to include and how to show it. Start with its title, scale, orientation, and legend before focusing on an individual symbol.
A road map and a contour map may describe the same area very differently. Their purposes explain much of what each one leaves out.
Contour lines connect points of equal elevation. Their spacing helps describe the shape of a slope: closer lines usually indicate a steeper gradient.
Trace a few lines with your eye and imagine the surface they describe. A two-dimensional pattern can suggest a surprisingly clear sense of landform.
Choose a familiar route and sketch only the landmarks you remember. The result records attention as much as distance.
Compare the drawing with another view of the place. Notice which details became larger, which disappeared, and what you might look for next time.